"They sing about their homes, nature and the land, which reminded me of my home. We seem to ignore how beautiful our home is and pursue a life in bigger cities," Ba Nong says.

In 2012, he decided to quit his job in Guangzhou and return home. He built his own house and bought recording equipment. He recorded his music trilogy and released it in 2015, featuring three albums, including Drifting Cloud in the Sky and River Without a Name.

Now, with their songs reaching a wider audience, the band has received more opportunities. However, they are in no hurry to pursue fame or money.

"We are much busier than ever due to the reality show. We travel a lot. But we will return to our home once our job on the show is done. Our music is born in the field, therefore we will never leave it for long," says Ba Nong.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn